The current officeholder is [[Republican]] [[Larry Parman]]. Gov. [[Mary Fallin]] (R) named him to take over the role on a permanent basis effective March 1, 2013.

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The current officeholder is [[Republican]] [[Chris Benge]]. He took over the position on November 8, 2013 to replace [[Larry Parman]], who Gov. [[Mary Fallin]] (R) named as the new director of the state Department of Commerce and as her secretary of commerce.<ref> [http://www.ktul.com/story/23661517/okla-governor-names-parman-to-commerce-dept-post ''KTUL,'' "Okla. governor names Parman to Commerce Dept. post," October 10, 2013] </ref>

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Parman replaced [[Michelle Day]], who was serving as interim officeholder. She temporarily replaced [[Glenn Coffee]], who resigned from the office on January 31, 2013. <ref> [http://www.ktul.com/story/21201574/governor-fallin-appoints-new-secretary-of-state ''KTUL,'' "Governor Fallin Appoints New Secretary Of State," February 14, 2013] </ref>

[[File:OK state org chart.JPG|200px|right|thumb|Oklahoma state government organizational chart]]

In Oklahoma, the secretary of state is a position that is filled via appointment by the [[Governor of Oklahoma|governor]] with the consent of the [[Oklahoma State Senate|state senate]]. According to [[Article VI, Oklahoma Constitution#Section 1|Article 6, Section 1]] of the [[Oklahoma Constitution]], the secretary serves a term of four years in length concurrent with that of the [[Governor of Oklahoma|governor]].

In Oklahoma, the secretary of state is a position that is filled via appointment by the [[Governor of Oklahoma|governor]] with the consent of the [[Oklahoma State Senate|state senate]]. According to [[Article VI, Oklahoma Constitution#Section 1|Article 6, Section 1]] of the [[Oklahoma Constitution]], the secretary serves a term of four years in length concurrent with that of the [[Governor of Oklahoma|governor]].

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==State budget==

==State budget==

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:: ''See also: [[Oklahoma state budget and finances]]''

The budget for the Secretary of State's office in Fiscal Year 2012 was $3,389,000.<ref> [http://www.ok.gov/OSF/documents/bud14hd.pdf#page=441&zoom=auto,0,650 ''Office of Management and Enterprise Services,'' "FY-2014 Executive Budget Historical Document," accessed April 11, 2013] </ref>

The budget for the Secretary of State's office in Fiscal Year 2012 was $3,389,000.<ref> [http://www.ok.gov/OSF/documents/bud14hd.pdf#page=441&zoom=auto,0,650 ''Office of Management and Enterprise Services,'' "FY-2014 Executive Budget Historical Document," accessed April 11, 2013] </ref>

==Compensation==

==Compensation==

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In 2010, the Oklahoma Secretary of State was paid an estimated $94,500 according to the [[Council of State Governments]].<ref>[http://knowledgecenter.csg.org/drupal/system/files/Table_4.11.pdf ''The Council of State Governments'',"The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11," retrieved May 14, 2011]</ref>

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::''See also: [[Compensation of state executive officers]]''

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{{See code|Link=[http://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=437260 Title 74, Chapter 10 of the Oklahoma Statutes]}}

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Title 74, Chapter 10 (§74‑10.5) of the Oklahoma Statutes sets the maximum base salary for the secretary of state. The section provides for the secretary of state's salary to be increased—to an amount not exceeding the highest paid secretary in the governor's cabinet—in the event the secretary of state is designated as a cabinet secretary in addition to his existing role.<ref>[http://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=437260 ''Oklahoma State Courts Network'', "Oklahoma Statutes, §74-10.5," accessed February 19, 2015]</ref><ref>[http://law.justia.com/codes/oklahoma/2012/title-74/ ''Oklahoma Code'', "Title 74, Section 10.5," accessed February 19, 2015]</ref> The amount of compensation is prescribed by law, pursuant to [[Article VI, Oklahoma Constitution#Section 34|'''Article VI, Section 34''']] of the [[Oklahoma Constitution]]:

|''Each of the officers in this article named shall, at stated times, during his continuance in office, receive for his services a compensation, which shall not be increased or diminished during the term for which he shall have been elected; nor shall he receive to his use, any fees, cost, or perquisites of office or other compensation.''

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===2014===

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In 2014, the Oklahoma Secretary of State received a salary of $140,000, according to the [[Council of State Governments]].<ref>[http://knowledgecenter.csg.org/kc/system/files/4.11%202014.pdf ''Council of State Governments,'' "SELECTED STATE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICIALS: ANNUAL SALARIES," accessed December 4, 2014]</ref>

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===2013===

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In 2013, the Oklahoma Secretary of State was paid an estimated [[Compensation of state executive officers|$90,000]]. This figure comes from the [[Council of State Governments]].<ref>[http://knowledgecenter.csg.org/kc/system/files/4.11_2013.pdf ''Council of State Governments,'' "SELECTED STATE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICIALS: ANNUAL SALARIES," January 28, 2014]</ref>

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===2010===

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In 2010, the Oklahoma Secretary of State was paid an estimated $94,500 according to the [[Council of State Governments]].<ref>[http://knowledgecenter.csg.org/drupal/system/files/Table_4.11.pdf ''The Council of State Governments'', "The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11," accessed May 14, 2011]</ref>

The Oklahoma Secretary of State is an appointed position in the Oklahoma state government. The secretary of state is the chief clerical officer for the state of Oklahoma.

Current officeholder

The current officeholder is RepublicanChris Benge. He took over the position on November 8, 2013 to replace Larry Parman, who Gov. Mary Fallin (R) named as the new director of the state Department of Commerce and as her secretary of commerce.[1]

Authority

A. The Executive authority of the state shall be vested in a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, State Auditor and Inspector, Attorney General, State Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Commissioner of Labor, Commissioner of Insurance and other officers provided by law and this Constitution, each of whom shall keep his office and public records, books and papers at the seat of government, and shall perform such duties as may be designated in this Constitution or prescribed by law.

B. The Secretary of State shall be appointed by the Governor by and with the consent of the Senate for a term of four (4) years to run concurrently with the term of the Governor.

Qualifications

No person shall be eligible to the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, State Auditor and Inspector, Attorney General, State Treasurer or Superintendent of Public Instruction except a citizen of the United States of the age of not less than thirty-one (31) years and who shall have been ten (10) years next preceding his or her election, or appointment, a qualified elector of this state..

Duties

The secretary of state has a number of duties and responsibilities in several distinct areas:[2]

Executive functions: The secretary attests to the governor's signature, files all official gubernatorial acts, and certifies all executive orders, appointments, and proclamations.

Court on Judiciary: The secretary designates five district judges to serve on the Appellate Division of the Court on Judiciary and eight district judges to serve on the Trial Division of the Court on Judiciary.

Certification: The secretary copies and/or certifies documents filed by the corporate filing office, authenticates county court clerk signatures on documents, and certifies the signatures of public officials.

Central Filing System: The secretary's office files and publishes information that allows buyers, commission merchants, and selling agents to identify farm products that are subject to a security interest.

Trademarks: The secretary of state files applications of trademarks and issues certificates of registration, and also issues trademark renewals, assignments, and cancellations.

Oaths and Loyalty Oaths: The secretary of state files an oath of office and a loyalty oath for every officer of a state agency, board, commission, court, institution, and member of the state legislature.

Public Meeting Notices: All state agencies, boards, commissions and public trusts must file notices of their meetings with the secretary's office.

Summons: The secretary acts as a registered agent for all business entities, unless an additional agent has been appointed, and for any domestic corporation whose agent has resigned.

Transmitting Utility and Railroad Mortgages: The office files every mortgage, deed of trust, and supplementary instruments of all utility corporations and companies.

Invention Developer Bonds: The office maintains copies of inventor's surety bonds after they have been approved by the attorney general.

Surface Damage Bonds: Every mineral owner or lessee who drills or prepares to drill for oil or gas is required to file a corporate surety bond, letter of credit from a bank, cash, or a CD. The secretary of state files and records each of these bonds.

Other Duties: Additional duties include filing and/or certifying policy statements of each public institution of higher education, personality rights as successor-in-interest, public trust indentures and amendments thereto, preliminary and final official statements, facsimile signatures, bonds of public officials and employees.

Compensation

Title 74, Chapter 10 (§74‑10.5) of the Oklahoma Statutes sets the maximum base salary for the secretary of state. The section provides for the secretary of state's salary to be increased—to an amount not exceeding the highest paid secretary in the governor's cabinet—in the event the secretary of state is designated as a cabinet secretary in addition to his existing role.[4][5] The amount of compensation is prescribed by law, pursuant to Article VI, Section 34 of the Oklahoma Constitution:

Each of the officers in this article named shall, at stated times, during his continuance in office, receive for his services a compensation, which shall not be increased or diminished during the term for which he shall have been elected; nor shall he receive to his use, any fees, cost, or perquisites of office or other compensation.